Remote Borotholi Union in Rangamati Faces Severe Isolation and Lack of Basic Public Services
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Borotholi, a remote union situated along the borders of India’s Mizoram state and Myanmar’s Chin state, remains largely isolated from essential public services and infrastructure. Despite being home to an estimated 5,000 residents, the mountainous region in Rangamati’s Bilaichhari Upazila lacks basic amenities, including secondary schools, healthcare facilities, and mobile network connectivity.
Spanning 278 square kilometers, the union is geographically defined by its rugged, forest-covered terrain and the proximity of Raikhyong Lake. The lake, located 1,200 feet above sea level, serves as a natural barrier that complicates local travel. Because there is no permanent marketplace within the union, residents must trek across difficult terrain to reach Ruma Upazila in neighboring Bandarban district to access even the most fundamental necessities.
The union, which was established in 2013 from two wards of Farua Union, is inhabited by five indigenous groups: Tanchangya, Marma, Tripura, Khumi, and Mro. Most residents practice subsistence-based Jhum cultivation. The area’s spiritual life is centered around 10 churches and two Buddhist monasteries. While nine private primary schools operate in the union, the lack of secondary education leads to high dropout rates. During the monsoon season, rising water levels in local streams and rivers make travel impossible, forcing students to abandon their education for weeks at a time.
Local leaders emphasize that the administrative distance is a significant burden. While the area is officially part of Bilaichhari Upazila in Rangamati, reaching the district headquarters can take up to three days on foot. Consequently, the union’s temporary administrative office has been moved to Ruma in Bandarban, a journey that still requires a 27-kilometer walk through the mountains.
Moti Tripura, a community leader in the union’s Ward 7, noted that parents are often unable to send their children to distant schools due to safety concerns during the rainy season. He appealed for the establishment of a government-run community clinic to provide basic medical care, which is currently non-existent in the region.
Borotholi Union Parishad Chairman Jamaiya Tanchangya confirmed that the union serves approximately 5,000 residents and 2,100 voters, yet lacks functional government institutions. He stated that the logistical challenge of operating from an office 27 kilometers away in another district severely hampers the delivery of public services.
Addressing the situation, Bilaichhari Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain acknowledged the extreme difficulty of the terrain. He confirmed that administrative operations are managed from Ruma for better connectivity. Regarding education, Hossain explained that while the local administration had previously attempted to establish a junior secondary school in the area, the project was suspended due to the geographical isolation and a critical shortage of students.
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